After radiography when should you have your operation?

FormerMember over 9 years ago

5 replies
118 subscribers
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Hi, I'm not sure if anyone can help me? My mum was diagnosed with bowel cancer that have spread to her liver in January 2015, this year has been very difficult with scans, chemo and radiography. She finished her radiography mid August and responded will, however since then we have been waiting for a date for her operation. She was given a date of 10th November for her bowel, but then this was cancelled at the last minute and she was told that they would operate on her liver first. She's now had this operation (26th Nov) and is recovering well. However, today she had an appointment letter through from her oncologist saying she's not got a meeting with her until 6th January, then i'm presuming the surgeon will have limited appointments free? In January it will be getting onto 5 months since finishing radiography. This to me seems a very, very long time to leave the cancer inside her potentially growing. Please can anyone give me some advice on this or share their experience? I think I may have to intervene and approach PALS, but it would be good to understand how long others had to wait and what effect a wait has? Is the radiography still working? Many thanks

FormerMember over 9 years ago

I had radio&chemotherapy earlier this year 6 weeks of each together which finished mid April.

i then had scans and surgery mid July and now back at work on chemotherapy tablets for 8 cycles. Hope this might give you some idea

FormerMember over 9 years ago

I had 5 weeks of chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer in March this year, finished in April. Had scans after 10 weeks in July as radiotherapy still working, was told had a really good response. I wanted to go on holiday end of August so asked my surgeon if he had any objections and he said no but would rescan end of Aug ready for surgery when I came back. Got the results back 2nd week of Sept and to his and the colorectal nurse surprise the tumour had reduced even more. They presume radiotherapy stops after about 10 weeks but obviously not but as they only scan after 10 weeks there isn't much info after that.

I had surgery on 22nd Oct and now on the long road to recovery

FormerMember over 9 years ago

Hi JoJo

I'm sorry you are so worried about your mum, it is quite normal to get very stressed over how long these things seem to be taking. Speak to her Specialist Nurse, as it could be that they want to give your mum time to recover from one op before planning the next. I am sure her team are looking after her well and will get her scheduled in as soon as they can once they feel she can cope with the next op.

We often look well on the outside, but it takes time for our bodies to recover internally from surgery.

Plan to enjoy Christmas and do lots of nice things together before she goes back in January for her next appointment..

Take care,

Lynne

Pez2 over 3 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Can I ask after finishing the 5 weeks chemoradiotherapy (I finished on 22nd October) did you have any side effects. I had a lot of bleeding and meds made my bowels compacted so not been good last few weeks. Sorry to be graphic

Kareno62 over 3 years ago in reply to Pez2

Hi Pez2 The original post is more than 6 years old so not sure if the people in it are still on the board? You could try starting a new post or maybe ring your Colorectal Support Nurse for advice? x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm